Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew into Singapore from the Maldives on Thursday (July 14) evening, after fleeing Sri Lanka amid a deepening crisis and widespread protests there.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lanka, who has fled to the Maldives early today (July 13, 2022), is expected to announce his resignation from office.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed to be acting president as incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa was overseas, the parliamentary Speaker announced Wednesday as thousands of protesters demanded both men step down.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country early on Wednesday, two sources told Reuters, hours before he was due to step down amid widespread protests over his handling of a devastating economic crisis.

The new president must be one deemed capable by the public.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday following a day of anti-government strikes and protests over the country's deep economic crisis that saw police use tear gas on two occasions.

Beleaguered Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has named a 17-member cabinet, despite growing calls for his resignation, according to the BBC.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fired his brother, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, amidst the ongoing economic crisis, according to Deccan Herald.